I am slowly, but surely returning to my sketchbook after a month of neglecting it for household D.I.Y. It was a necessary distraction for the leaking pipes, leaking roofs, crumbling courtyards needed immediate attention, but I'm very glad to be over the worst now, and able to concentrate on more artistic pursuits.

We live in the Vredehoek district of Cape Town. Roughly translated, Vredehoek means "peaceful corner" in Afrikaans. It is really quite peaceful, aside from the gale force winds that blow practically every day. The trees are permanently bowed like hunchbacks.

The view out our front gate is amazing: Table Mountain soars above, and there is some of the most beguiling architecture with lacy-white ironwork railings.